Burnham to lead Cobra talks as another spell of extreme heat nears

Prime Minister Andy Burnham will convene the government’s Cobra emergency committee on Wednesday as another surge in temperatures approaches. The meeting will consider the UK’s response to extreme heat, with parts of England forecast to reach the mid-to-high 30s Celsius later this week.

Government response

The planned Cobra meeting comes as the effects of a challenging summer are being felt across emergency services, health care, agriculture and water management.

Cobra meeting on Wednesday

Andy Burnham is due to chair the government’s emergency Cobra committee on Wednesday. Ministers will discuss how the UK should respond as temperatures rise again.

Pressure on frontline services

A No 10 spokesperson said the government recognised the weather-related difficulties confronting firefighters, farmers and NHS staff. Wildfires, drought conditions and busy A&E units were identified as particular pressures.

Commitment to protective action

The spokesperson said the government would continue taking the measures required to protect communities, preserve water supplies and safeguard the environment.

New temperature records

Met Office figures show that the UK has already exceeded a longstanding annual benchmark for the number of days on which maximum temperatures pass 30C.

Thirty-degree threshold surpassed

Several locations went above 30C on Sunday, bringing the total number of such days this year to 35. That exceeds the previous record of 34 days, set in 1995.

Further highs expected

The total is expected to increase again on Wednesday and Thursday. Temperatures are forecast to peak in the mid-to-high 30s across the Midlands and south-east of England, while 38C is possible on Thursday.

Heat risks across England

Thursday is expected to bring the week’s most intense heat to several English regions, prompting both weather and health warnings.

Amber warnings in place

The Met Office has issued a rare amber warning for extreme heat for Thursday. The UK Health Security Agency has also put amber heat health alerts in place across all of England until Friday evening. These alerts advise the public and medical professionals when hot or cold conditions threaten health, and indicate that major effects on social and health care, including increased deaths, are likely.

Thursday forecast breakdown

The hottest conditions are anticipated in a number of regions, with potential records for the season and for August.

Regions most affected

The highest temperatures are forecast across the Midlands, Eastern England, London and south-east England, Yorkshire and Humber.

Potential 38C peak

A temperature of 38C would match the summer’s highest reading so far, recorded at Lingwood in Norfolk on 26 June. It would also represent the hottest August day since 2003, when 38.5C was measured.

Unprecedented monthly pattern

This year is also likely to become the first in which four calendar months have recorded temperatures of at least 35C.

Outlook beyond southern England

This heatwave is expected to be shorter than earlier episodes this summer, although conditions will remain unusually warm in some northern areas before a possible change at the weekend.

Warmth reaches Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland and Northern Ireland are not expected to see heat as extreme as southern England. However, eastern Northern Ireland and southern and eastern Scotland will remain well above the heatwave threshold, with humidity likely to strengthen from Wednesday night into Thursday. Some locations could reach the mid-to-high 20s Celsius on Wednesday, compared with typical August daytime values in the high teens to low 20s.

Cooler change and drought limits

Western Scotland and western Northern Ireland should be relatively cooler because Atlantic cloud and occasional rain are expected. Although confidence in the detail is low, this may bring showers and possibly more prolonged rain. Temperatures should feel noticeably lower over the weekend, but easing drought would require months of above-average rainfall. More than two-thirds of England is now in drought.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to common questions about the UK’s approaching period of extreme heat.

1. What is the Cobra meeting about?

Andy Burnham is due to chair the government’s Cobra emergency committee on Wednesday to discuss the UK’s response to another rise in temperatures, with parts of England forecast to reach the mid-to-high 30s Celsius.

2. Why does the approaching heat matter?

Extreme heat is placing additional pressure on firefighters, farmers, NHS services and water management. The UK Health Security Agency says amber heat health alerts indicate that major effects on health and social care, including increased deaths, are possible.

3. What are the main implications of the latest forecast?

The Met Office has issued an amber extreme-heat warning for Thursday, when temperatures could reach 38C in parts of England. The heat could also set seasonal and August records, while this year may become the first in which four calendar months record temperatures of at least 35C.

4. What should people do next?

People should monitor the Met Office forecast and UK Health Security Agency heat health alerts, particularly because alerts are in place across England until Friday evening. Medical professionals and the public can use these warnings to prepare for potentially hazardous conditions.

Based on reporting from the original report.